The NHL Players Association announced that 11 players have applied for salary arbitration in the 2025 offseason. Salary arbitration is an option that restricts the freedom agent to propose, and then an independent arbitrator is able to grant a salary to the player and can be a transaction of one or two years.
Complete explanation of arbitration, Puckpedia has a fault here.
Players applying for arbitration can still sign a contract with the team until the arbitrator’s hearing begins. However, they are not eligible for the offer form now. The team must exercise their choice to submit arbitration with the players by 5 p.m. on July 6.
RFA Apply for Arbitration
Morgan Barron, Winnipeg Jets
After another effective season, Morgan Barron applied for arbitration. Whether or not a year or two-year transaction is granted, the transaction will lead to an unrestricted free agency. Over the past three seasons, Barron scored 54 points in the 2024-25 season. He is a great two-way player who can make a little offense offense, but can also perform well on defense.
Related: 2025 NHL Free Agent Tracker
Lukas Dostal, Anaheim Duck
Despite the Anaheim Ducks struggling again, Lukas Dostal is a very highlight of the club. His record of 23-23-7 and 0.903 percent savings is arguably their most valuable asset last season. Dostal, 25, has played 98 games in the past two seasons, which makes it clear that he is ready and able to take over the crease, especially after John Gibson left.
Drew Helleson, Anaheim
Drew Helleson, the Department of Defense, insisted on sticking with the duck and applied for arbitration. Given his expectations of him, the 6-foot-3 right shooter broke into the league and had an impressive rookie season. He is physically, blocked a lot of shots, and is a stable supplement to the duck’s blue line. Helleson won 12th place in Calder Trophy vote in 2024-25.
Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Cleken
The former second draft pick joined Seattle Cleken after being handled by the New York Rangers and scored 30 points in the final 49 games of the season. Kakko did a great job of adjusting his game to be a two-way winger, and although he hasn’t reached the offensive performance many hoped for in the second overall, he established himself as a good asset for Kraken.
Nicholas Robertson, Toronto Maple Leaf
Nicholas Robertson worked hard to establish himself as a full-time roster for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but took a big step in the right direction last season. After demanding a trade in the 2024 offseason, he eventually returned to Leaf and created a career-highest in games, goals, blocks and hits. While he still has some work to stick with throughout the season and the playoffs, Robertson made huge progress.
Dylan Samberg of Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Jets’ defense team has a lot of quality works, including Josh Morrissey, Dylan Demelo and Neal Pionk, but Dylan Samberg has established himself as one of the very valuable pieces of that blue line. He has a good offensive ability, is very reliable on the defensive end and can stop a lot of shots and do everything he can.
Arvid Soderblom, Chicago Blackhawks
After several seasons becoming a backup goalkeeper for the Chicago Blackhawks, Arvid Soderblom seems to be getting closer and closer to his next step and taking over the crease. In 36 games, Soderblom posted a 10-18-7 record and a .898 percentage savings. While these seasons can certainly improve, the Blackhawks have struggled a lot this season, and Soderblom has indeed shown a lot of hope throughout the season.
Jayden Struble, Montreal Canadian
After 56 games back-to-back season, Jayden Struble wants to be a permanent fixture for the Montreal Canadaens’ blue line. He played a very physical game, skating and defending well, and even made the top four with Noah Dobson for a very solid third-side defender.
Conor Timmins, Buffalo Saber
After bounced a lot, the 26-year-old defensive Conor Timmins is now his fifth team, with Buffalo Sabers taking his rights from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Timmins is a great offensive defensive player who can do well in the roster, but has some defensive missteps that often put him in the roster. He will hope to join the defense team with Saber.
Maksim Tsyplakov, New York Islander
After joining the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Maksim Tsyplakov’s rookie season was very strong, proving himself as a scoring winger in 77 games, 35 points in 77 games, but also a physical threat, ranking fourth with 140 hits on his team. As he becomes more comfortable in the NHL, Tsyplakov may become a great winger for the Islanders, but the arbitration agreement (whether a year or two) will lead him to unlimited free agents.
Gabriel Vilardi of Winnipeg Jets
Another player from the Jets applied for arbitration, which is Gabriel Vilardi. Verady has been Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor’s top asset since getting from the Los Angeles Kings. Villard’s value scored 27 goals and 61 points in 2024-25, and while arbitration could lead to a short deal, the Jets could try to find longer deals instead of letting Vilardi reach unrestricted free agents.
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